Quote:
Originally Posted by King cody
Hey Guys,
I have a 1.9l diesel on a mini VW pickup and have been looking to delete the alt, build a sloping bed cover a la Phil Knox, and integrate a solar panel into the bed cover, add a deep cell battery, and LED lighting. Since the diesel doesn't have an ignition system but relies on compression only for detonation, is this an option to delete the alt completely and feed all electrical requirements from the solar panel. which would sit outside all day to recharge the deep cell? I rarely drive nights anyway. Seems I've seen a 10% increase in mpg from deleting the alt, plus adding the sloping bed back to the tailgate, and then adding a second structure off the tailgate for the second low pressure area there would add another 10-15%. Doable?
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My advice is to leave the alternator in place and figure out how to switch it on and off. The pulley has so little drag as to have an unmeasurable effect on MPG. I doubt the truck would run without electricity since the "ignition" that your key controls will kill it when turned off. My truck uses an electric fuel pump, so it needs a good electricity source at all times.
I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how most diesels turn off when the key is turned off. I assume some sort of solenoid opens a fuel valve when on, and then closes the valve when turned off.